Letters to the Editor

Neighbors supporting neighbors

By Dan Thomas

Posted:
03/17/2013 01:00:00 AM MDT

Three years ago, Boulder County was grappling with the first serious impacts of the Great Recession. Unemployment had risen sharply and was over 7 percent, the number of people who couldn't afford adequate food had doubled since 2008, and need for health care coverage was in the early stages of a 65 percent increase from that same time.

People who had never needed help paying their bills were on the edge of a cliff. And the land behind them was eroding, as businesses made permanent cuts and the job market flooded with other stunned formerly middle-class workers. So when our Boulder County commissioners, working with nonprofit and human services agency leaders, reached out to our community for help, the message was a critical and urgent one: We need to keep our safety net strong even as budget cuts and economic pressures continue to mount.

The idea was a temporary property tax increase that would backfill cuts and help bolster services that are fundamental to a community turnaround: housing, food and cash assistance, and help with child care and medical coverage among them. Commissioners put Initiative 1A on the November 2010 ballot and Boulder County voters approved it. The Temporary Human Services Safety Net (TSN), immediately went to work. Crucial funding was quickly released for homeless prevention, subsidized child care and boosting access to food, financial and health care coverage. Since January 2011, TSN has invested more than $9 million in our community, all during a critical time for those who are struggling.

Some of the important impacts of the TSN in Boulder County:

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Food, health care and family stability: Millions invested in the county's ability to connect people with benefits helped deliver health care to more than 32,000 people and food assistance to more than 17,000; in two years, this has leveraged an influx of an additional $17 million into the community.

Homeless prevention: A $1 million investment in the county's Housing Stabilization Program provided critical rental assistance for 267 families who were on the brink of homelessness; an additional $450,000 was funneled to nonprofits providing housing supports.

Child care: The waitlist for the Child Care Assistance Program (which had been closed due to budget cuts), was reopened, and income limits were raised so more people could qualify; 450 additional children and their families received subsidized child care as a result.

This is just two years into the five-year TSN. These boosts would not have been possible without the generosity of Boulder County voters. The TSN has allowed the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services and its network of nonprofits to focus on early intervention and prevention even in the midst of a severe economic downturn. By getting services to people sooner, we avoid costlier and more severe issues down the line. By stabilizing housing and helping parents pay for child care, we are providing supports for families to get back on their feet and become self-sufficient again. By improving access to food, financial and medical assistance, we're reducing the numbers of people who reach crisis. And by investing directly in mental health, medical and dental clinics, we're increasing capacity for people to get the help they need now. This approach is proven to work. The TSN represents a proactive response to a community crisis, and the investment is paying off.

In this downturn, many folks are finding themselves having to reach out for assistance for the first time, and some are reluctant to do so. But the big lesson of the TSN is that it's important to seek help as early as possible.

Boulder County DHHS is engaging the community and providing information and transparency about its services, including its administration of the TSN. A new report at BoulderCountyTSN.org shows how your tax dollars are being put to good use ensuring our safety net remains strong, responsive and prevention-based.

As a member of Boulder County's Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee, I get to see the county's vision at close range. I know I can speak for this committee in saying we are all proud to be part of the Boulder County community. During this economic downturn, our community has come together to support our neighbors who have been struggling. For me, the TSN serves as a reminder every day of why I am so proud to live here.

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